Washing machine for animal cages and the like



Nov. 28, 1961 F. s. FAUST ETAL 3,010,461

WASHING MACHINE FOR ANIMAL CAGES AND THE LIKE Filed May 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .65 6 7? 0,2 jyENToR ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 F. s. FAUST ETAL I 3,010,461

WASHING MACHINE FOR ANIMAL CAGES AND THE LIKE Filed May 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent i 3,010,461 WASHING MACHlNE FOR ANIIVLAL CAGE AND THE LIKE Francis 5. Faust, Butialo, and Ernest R. Edmunds, Tonawanda, N.Y., assignors toR. G. Wright Company, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 25, 1959, Ser. No. 815,548 9 Claims. (Cl. 134-491) This invention relates to a washingmachine and more particularly to a machine for simultaneously washing two parts of articles to be washed, such as animal cages and the removable sawdust containing pans placed at the bottom of such cages. The invention is not, of course, restricted to washing any particular articles and can be used wherever its advantageous features are applicable.

The invention is illustrated in conjunction with the washing of conventional oblong or rectangular openmesh metal animal cages, particularly for animals used for test and research work in hospitals and laboratories, and in the bottoms of which pans filled with sawdust are placed.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a Washer which will not only thoroughly wash and sanitize the animal cages themselves, but which will also simultaneously thoroughly wash and sanitize the pans for such cages.

Another object is to provide such a washer which is compact and at the same time can be used for washing large quantities of animal cages and pans and in particular can be designed in the 01m of a tunnel washer in which the cages are introduced at one end and removed from the opposite end.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washer in which sprays are used and in which the spray pattern can be designed for maximum eiiectiveness, that is, with substantially all of the sprays being directed against the articles being washed at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a washer which is particularly adapted for use with high pressure sprays so that washing is effected not only through the detergent action of the solution used but also through the impact of the high pressure sprays.

Another important object is to provide such a washer which can be set up on the floor of the laboratory or its washroom, and the cages readily rolled into the washer and its washing zone. This is accomplished by the elimination of the usual deep sump in which the washing solution is usually stored for recirculation. Such deep sumps, in order to permit readily wheeling of the articles to be washed into the washer, were required to be set into the floor. With an existing building, this not infrequently required redesigning and replacement of main girders as Well as tearing out concrete and masonry.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a washer which is low in cost and simple to operate.

Another object or" the invention is to provide a high pressure pump for recirculating the spray solution through the high pressure sprays and which pump is under a substantial head of spray solution so as to operate with maximum etiiciency.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of a washer for animm cages "embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, with broken away.

FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken generally on line 3+3, FIG. 1.

parts ice FIG. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken generally on line 4-'4, FIG. 1.

F is a fragmentary side elevation view, on an enlarged scale, of the hook and latch means for securing the bottom pans to the side walls of the washer.

While the invention is not limited to any particular use and can be employed wherever these features are of advantage, the washer of the present invention was particularly designed for washing screened oblong or rectangular animal cages indicated generally at 10. These animal cages usually comprise a rectangular cubical frame 11 providing openings on all four vertical sides over which metal screens 12 of suitably sized mesh are secured and an open top over which a similar screen 13 is secured. The vertical corner members of each cage project downwardly to form four legs 14 and these legs severally carryhorizontal inwardly projecting lugs 15 adapted to support the rim of a pan 16 which can be slid under the cage to be supported on these lugs. These pans are made of metal and usually contain sawdust and these pans are shown as being of rectangular form with vertical side and end walls.

Certain of these cages can be provided with casters 17 severally secured to their corner legs 14. This permits cages to be stacked on a cage with casters to provide a stack of cages that can be rolled into the washing machine.

The washer of the present invention is contained within a large rectangular casing having a vertical rectangular front wall 18, a similar rear wall 19, vertical rectangular side walls 20, 21 and a top wall or root 22. In addition, the casing is shown as having a horizontal rectangular bottom wall 23. An access door 24 is shown as mounted in the front wall 18, the sill 25 of this door being arranged a few inches above floor level for a purpose hereinafter described and this door being of any suitable construction to permit a stack of cages 10 supported by the casters 17 to be rolled up a ramp 26 over the sill 25 of the door. In horizontal alinement with this sill 25, the casing is provided with a generally horizontal slightly elevated floor panel 28 which supports the stack of cages 10. Below this floor panel the casing is provided with an inclined bottom panel 29 which is shown as inclining downwardly from the side Wall 20 and connected at its opposite ends to the front and rear walls 18, 19 so as to provide a drain surface for collecting substantially all the spent spray solution. The lower edge of this drain panel 2? is con tinued to form a downwardly projecting wall 30 which is secured to the bottom panel 23 and front and rear panels 18 and 19 to provide a side channel, gutter or drain trough 31 along the bottom or" the side panel 21.

The cages and pans are washed and sanitized with a cleaning solution which is recirculated by a pump system preferably constructed as follows:

The numeral 35 represents a low pressure pump mounted in a receiver 36 which is in the form of an external box-like extension of the bottom of the side Wall 21 and forms a continuation of the side channel or trough 31 so that the cleaning solution from side channel or trough 31 drains into the receiver 36. This pump 35 is suspended from the top of the box-like receiver on which is mounted the electric motor 39 driving the pump, the pump 35 discharging through an outlet line 49 into the bottom of a side solution storage tank 41 mounted on the side wall 21 of the casing. An overflow dam or weir 42 can be provided Within the box-like receiver 36, the space beyond this dam or weir being shown as provided with an overflow 43. This receiver is, of course, of much smaller area than the area or" the washing zone.

The side tank 41 is designed to take the place of the usual storage sump conventionally used in washers of this type and to this end the storage tank 41 is of such capacity as to contain the full charge of solution for the washing machine. It will particularly be noted that the bottom of the tank 41 is elevated well above floor level and well above the receiver 36 and that the low pressure pump and its motor 39 are arranged directly below and in vertical alinement with the bottom of this storage tank. It will also be noted that this storage tank extends the full horizontal length of the side wall 21 and is of substantial height and width so that it contains a full charge, of the spraysolution being circulated.

The numeral represents a high pressure pump positioned directly below and in vertical alinement with the bottom of the tank 41 and alongside the pump motor 39. This high pressure pump is driven by an electric motor 46 and the inlet 48 of this pump connects with the bottom of the elevated supply tank 41 so that the high pressure pump 45 is under a constant head of liquid. The outlet pipe 49 from the high pressure pump 45 extends through the side wall 21 to the interior of the tank and there connects with a flexible hose 50 which supplies the washing solution to the spray tree which is preferably constructed as follows:

The spray tree, indicated generally at 51, includes an upper central horizontal pipe 52 to the side of which the flexible conduit 50 connects and which extends parallel with the side walls 20, 21 and is arranged close to the top or root 22 of the casing. This overhead central horizontal pipe 52 has a plurality of downwardly directed by a 78 with the central horizontal overhead pipe 52 of the spray tree. The length of the crank 76 and the link 78 are, of course, proportioned to bring the sprays directly against the side and top areas of the stack of cages 10 and preferably'these sprays pass beyond the stack of cages so as to client washing of the front and rear walls thereof as well. For this purpose the spray nozzles. 60,'asrwell as the spray nozzles 58, are angularly disposed so as to spray angularly toward the front and rear walls of the stack of cages as these nozzlespass beyond the stack of cages in the reciprocation of the spray tree.

a An important feature of the invention resides in the washing of the pans 16 simultaneously with the washing of the cages 10. For this purpose each of the side walls 20, 21 is provided with a horizontal series of bottom supports 80 and top latches 81 for the pans and which are arranged to support these pans in rows with their interiors facing the stack of cages 10. The supports can be of any suitable form but areshownas being C-shaped wire holders having their legs secured to the side walls high pressure nozzles 54 at its underside and which direct high pressure sprays 55 downwardly on top of the stack of animal cages 10. A pair of branch pipes 56 extend horizontal from each end of the central overhead pipe 52 and each contains a plurality of downwardly directed high pressure nozzles 58 which also direct high pressure sprays 55 of solution downwardly on the stack of animal cages 19. The outward end of each branch pipe 56 is continued in a downwardly extending vertical corner pipe 59, these corner pipes extending downwardly close to the floor 28. on which the stack of animal cages are supported and each of these vertical corner pipes carries a plurality of nozzles '60 which are directed horizontally toward the sides of the animal cages 1O embraced by the four depending vertical corner pipes 59 of the spray tree. The nozzles 60 also direct high pressure sprays 55 of washing solution against the opposite sides of the stack of animal cages 10.

To render the high pressure sprays 55 eiiective against the entire top and side area of the animal cages as well as against the front and rear sides thereof, the entire spray tree 51 is reciprocated lengthwise of the side walls 20, 21 so that these sprays are successively presented to different areas of the stack of cages 10 as well as against the end walls thereof. For this purpose a pair of overhead tracks are mounted against the underside of the roof or top Wall 22 of the casing to extend parallel with the side walls 20 and 21. These rails are shown as arranged in equally spaced relation to the longitudinal center line of the easing and each has a bottom horizontal flange which supports rollers 66. Thme rollers are rotatably secured to the upper ends of ears 68 which are fixed to and project upwardly from the outboard ends of the four overhead horizontal branch pipes 56 of the spray tree. lt'will accordingly be seen that the entire spray tree 51 is sup- 7 ported from the pair of overhead tracks 65 by these rollers 66 and that the spray tree is capable of moving for-andaft Within the casing.

Any suitable mechanism can be provided for reciproe eating the spray tree 51 along the rails 65, that shown comprising a vertical shaft 70 journalled in and extending through the roof or top wall 22 of the casing. The upper end of this shaft is driven from a small electric motorr72 connected by a belt drive 73 with a'speed reducer 74, this speed reducer in turn being connected by a chain 75 with a pinion fixed to the upper end of the shaft 70. Within the casing, the shaft 78 carries a crank arm 76. The outer end of this crank arm is connected and having their cross parts angularly disposed and arranged in pairs so that the lower corner of the pans can be placed in a pair of these holders 80 to be supported thereby. The latches 81 can also be of any suitable form to releasably engage the upper rims of the pans and each is shown as being in the form of a simple Z-bar having one end pivotally secured, as indicated at 82, to the side wall and as having its offset free end 83 swingable to a posin'on embracing the rim of the pan 16. The pans for the stack of cages are mounted on these holders 80 and latches 81 in two horizontal rows on the opposite side walls of the casing and these pans are acted upon by horizontal high pressure sprays 84 from nozzles 85, the nozzles 85 being arranged in a vertical series on each of the vertical corner pipes 59 and being arranged to spray outwardly toward the adjacent side wall 21 or 21 and hence against the pans 15 mounted on these side walls. It will particularly be noted that the pans are rectangular form and that the spray nozzles 85 are arranged to produce a rectangular pattern corresponding to the rows of pans so that full use is made of the high pressure sprays 84 in cleaning these pans.

In setting up the washer as above described, it is mounted on the floor of the laboratory, or laboratory washroom without requiring structural alteration of the building. This is because there is no solution storage sump at the bottom of the casing as is usual with washers of this character, the solution being stored in the large elevated side tank 41 and the floor 28 of the casing being washer is set up. Accordingly to wheel the stacks of animal cages 10 into the casing all that is required is the slight ramp 26 to reach the slightly elevated floor 28 within the casing and no diftlculty has been experienced in rolling the stacks of animal cages 10, on their rollers 17, up this ramp 26, over the sill 25 of the door 24, and onto the floor 28 within the casing; Before so rolling a stack of animal cages 10 into the casing the operator first empties the sawdust from their bottom pans 16 and mounts these pans on the side walls 20, 21 of the casing. The lower corners of each pan is slipped down into and held by the C-shaped angular holders 80. The operator then swings each Z-bar 81 about its pivot 82 so that its outboard end 83 embraces and holds the pan 16 against the side wall. The pans are mounted so that their insides face toward the center of the casing.

After the casing has so been loaded with animal cages 10 and their pans 16, the operator closes the door 24 and starts the motors 39, 46 and 72. Energizing the motor 46 drives the high pressure pump 45. Accordingly this pumpwithdraws solution from the bottom of overhead tank 41 through its inlet 46 and discharges it through its The nozzles 54 carried by this horizontal central pipe discharge high pressure sprays 55 downwardly against the top of the stack of animal cages 1t). Spray water is also delivered to the horizontal overhead branch pipes 56 of the spray tree and the nozzles 58 of these branches likewise discharge high pressure sprays downwardly against the tops of the stack of animal cages 10. The spray solution is delivered from the ends of these branch pipes to the vertical depending corner pipes 59 and the nozzles 69 of these corner pipes likewise deliver high pressure sprays 55 of solution to impinge against the sides of the stack. The solution from the vertical corner pipes 59 is also delivered to its nozzles 85 which discharge high pressure sprays 84 of spray solution against the insides of the rows of bottom pans 16 mounted on the side walls 20, 21 of the casing so as to Wash and sanitize these pans.

The spray water settles downwardly to the inclined bottom drain panel 29 which delivers it through the side trough or sump 31 to the box-like receiver 36. This spray water enters the inlet of the low pressure pump 35 which is now driven by the energized motor 39. The outlet 4%) from the low pressure pump 35 delivers the solution back to the tank 41.

It will particularly be noted that a bottom storage sump is completely avoided, the low pressure pump 39 immediately removing all solution from the side channel 31 at the bottom of the casing and delivering it to the tank 41 which serves to store a full charge of the solution. It will also be noted that the head of liquid in this storage tank is impressed against the high pressure pump 45 so as to insure its operation at good efiiciency. It will also be noted that both of the pumps and their motors are contained in the space directly under the outboard storage tank 41 and that all of these parts are fully accessible from the exterior.

While the spray tree is so delivering spray water, it is reciprocated back and forth, the energized motor 72 driving the vertical shaft 70 which extends through the top wall 22 of the casing and rotates the crank arm 76. Through the link 78 this reciprocates the entire spray tree 51 along the overhead rails 65 from which it is supported by means of the rollers 66.

From the above it will be seen that the present invention provides a very simple and eflective washer for simultaneously washing the bottom pans 16 along with the cages 12; that these bottom pans can be quickly mounted in the washer; that the stack of cages can easily be wheeled up the slight ramp 26 into the casing; that the spray pattern is set as to effectively impinge the high pressure sprays against all parts of both the cages and the pans; that the entire washer can be set up on the floor of the laboratory or its washroom without alteration of the building; and that the high pressure pump 45 is under a substantial head of liquid from the elevated tank 41 at all times.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine, comprising means defining a washing zone, means spraying washing solution in said zone against the articles to be Washed, means at the bottom of said washing zone and leading the spent spray solution to a receiver of much smaller area than said Washing zone, a solution storage tank arranged exteriorly of said zone in a position other than under said zone and having a capacity sufiicient to hold substantially the full charge of washing solution for the machine, a low pressure pump transferring the solution from said receiver to said tank, and a high pressure pump transferring the solution from said tank to said spraying means.

2. A washing machine, comprising means defining a washing zone, means spraying washing solution in said zone against the articles to be Washed, means at the bottom of said Washing zone and leading the spent spray solution to a receiver of much smaller area than said washing zone, a solution storage tank arranged outside of 'said zone with its bottom arranged at a substantial elevation above said receiver and having a capacity sufiicient to hold substantially the full charge of washing solution for the machine, a low pressure pump transferring the solution from said receiver to said tank, and a high pressure pump transferring the solution from said tank to said spraying means.

3. A washing machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein both of said pumps are arranged directly below and in vertical alinernent with said bottom of said storage tank.

4. A washing machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said receiver is arranged directly below and in vertical alinement with said storage tank, wherein said low pressure pump is arranged in said receiver, and wherein said high pressure pump is also arranged directly below and in vertical alinement with said storage tank.

5. A washing machine comprising a casing having side walls defining a washing zone, means in said casing spraying washing solution in said washing zone against the articles to be washed, an inclined panel at the bottom of said casing and leading the spent spray solution to a receiver arranged externally of said casing, a solution storage tank arranged exteriorly at one side of said casing and having a capacity sufiicient to hold the full charge of washing solution for the machine, a low pressure pump transferring the solution from said receiver to said tank, and a high pressure pump transferring the solution from said tank to said spraying means.

6. A washing machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said solution storage tank is supported on one wall of said casing in a position directly above said receiver.

7. A washing machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said low pressure pump is arranged in said receiver with its outlet extending upwardly to said storage tank.

8. A washing machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said high pressure pump is arranged externally of said casing directly below said storage tank.

9. A washing machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said high pressure pump is arranged below said storage tank with its inlet extending upwardly and connected with the bottom of said storage tank and with its outlet extending through said one side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 597,957 Colbath Jan. 25, 1898 1,082,259 Baumiller Dec. 23, 1913 1,508,495 Bacharach Sept. 16, 1924 1,520,667 Oines Dec. 23, 1924 1,681,322 Cave Aug. 21, 1928 2,143,165 Olson Jan. 10, 1939 2,764,171 Nolte Sept. 25, 1956 

